Leeds United manager Neil Warnock will grant abusive fans their wish at the end of the season

Neil Warnock admitted that he is prepared to walk away from his post as Leeds
United manager after the club’s supporters called on him to resign during
the FA Cup fifth-round defeat at Manchester City.

Wish granted: Neil Warnock admitted that he is prepared to walk away from his post as Leeds United manager after the club’s supporters called on him to resign Photo: AP

The 64-year-old, who marks the first anniversary of his appointment at Elland Road today, was subjected to chants of “Warnock, time to go” as Premier League champions City coasted to a 4-0 victory.

Warnock’s future had already been uncertain as a result of the takeover of the club by the Dubai-based Gulf Finance House in December, with former Southampton manager Nigel Adkins understood to have growing support within the boardroom at Elland Road.

But with Warnock insisting that he will leave the club if they fail to win promotion this season, he revealed for the first time that he could go sooner if GFH asked him to leave.

“It’s a great club and if we don’t go up, I think everybody knows I won’t be here next season,” Warnock said. “It’s not rocket science. I think the club will be sensible about it, but I don’t want to leave them in the lurch. My contract is up in the summer and there is no way I want to stay in the Championship next season.

“My one intention was to go up, that’s why I am living away from the family — my wife let me have one more go at winning my eighth or ninth promotion. But GFH might want to make a change sooner. I have spoken to them and if they think it will help them, I’m not against it. The further away we get, I am sure the club will be looking out to see what they can get and, if I can help them, I will.

“Somebody said they want a younger manager. Well, that rules Sir Alex Ferguson out, doesn’t it? Whatever is best for Leeds United really. I am bit long in the tooth for all that.” Despite the calls for him to go from the fans, Warnock insisted he had no axe to grind with them. But the former Sheffield, Crystal Palace and Queens Park Rangers manager claimed that his efforts at the club do not warrant criticism.

“I came at a difficult time and I think, with what has gone on behind the scenes, I deserve a medal to be honest,” Warnock said.

“I have to get used to the chants. It’s disappointing, nobody wants that and I don’t think I deserve it following the year that I have had.

“The fans are so desperate to get back into the big time that when they see the opportunity gradually disappearing, the manager has to be the scapegoat.

“I am the focal point because there is nobody else around at the club. But if we don’t go up, I won’t be there next season. I think the fans have known that all along.”

Leeds are currently in 12th place in the Championship and eight points off the play-offs with 15 games to play.

City’s win proved the perfect response to the criticism of manager Roberto Mancini following their 3-1 league defeat at Southampton the previous weekend. Although City trail leaders Manchester United by 12 points, Mancini believes this win can provide a springboard for a late surge in the league.

“I am happy because it was important to win after Southampton,” he said. “I hope this can help us start to win in the Premier League.

“Sergio Agüero scored twice and it will be good if our strikers score a lot of goals until the end of the season because, if this happens, the title race is not over.

“It was really important to win this game. If you score two goals within the first 20 minutes it is easier, but the FA Cup is a difficult competition as Arsenal and Everton have shown today.”